Our Research

Our research including studies of childhood risk and resilience; clinical intervention in diverse sociocultural and geographic contexts; religious and spiritual development; altruism and caregiving; emotion and coping with trauma; psychotherapy process and outcome; and maternal psychological development and women's mental health. Take a look >>

We need the eggs

Rumors of psychotherapy's demise continue to be greatly exaggerated, says Barry Farber. As Woody Allen might argue: We need the eggs.Read More >>

Our Graduates

Graduates from both of these graduate-level programs seek positions in teaching, research, policy, administration, consultation, and psychotherapy.

Integrative Project

Spirituality and Psychology

Half a century ago, people were asking, "Is God dead?" Now TC's Dr. Lisa Miller is offering a new master's degree concentration in spirituality and psychology. Find out More >>

Program Information > Concentrations

Concentrations

PsyG Concentrations

The MA in Psychology and Education provides students in the General Track with the ability to concentrate their credits in a particular area of study. These concentrations are designed to accommodate the special interests and strengths of students by allowing them to focus on a particular are of sub-specialty. In order to qualify for one of these areas of concentration, you must be enrolled in the General Track (PsyG).

A) Research Methods: This area of focus prepares students for in-depth understanding of quantitative procedures in psychological research. Courses will focus on the methods of research design and statistical inference/mathematical modeling. This concentration helps students to work as highly competent researchers. The ONE requirement is CCPX 5533 plus THREE additional courses from the list below. Total = 4 courses/12 credits. Dr. Randall Richardson is the head of this concentration.

B) Child & Family: This area of focus prepares students for in-depth understanding of children, families, and developmental processes. This concentration has two fundamental areas of emphasis: i) child development; ii) the family in context. This concentration orients students to the challenges of working with children and their families. The ONE requirement is CCPX 5034 plus THREE additional courses from the list below. Tota l = 4 courses/12 credits. Dr. Susan Bodnar is the interim head of this concentration.

C) Spirituality Mind Body: This area of focus prepares students for in-depth understanding of the role of spirituality and contemplative practices (e.g., meditation) as contributors to mental health and well-being. This concentration fosters competency in exploring the essential spiritual principles and practices of human experience within the context of illness and healing. The ONE requirement is CCPX 5045 plus THREE additional courses from the list below. Total = 4 courses/12 credits. Dr. Lisa Miller is the head of this concentration.

A Master’s Degree in General Psychology

Spirituality Mind Body, Summer Intensive: Our summer intensive welcomes mid-career professionals and adults
arriving into a new chapter of personal and professional direction.
Summer Intensive hosts an immersion experience at the union of
spirituality and psychology. This concentration combines the academic
rigor of psychology at Teachers College, Columbia with spiritual
exploration and evolution personally and professionally.

We include as our pedagogical space the summer life
of New York City, a great spiritual and cultural center of the world. We
explore practices and approaches to better nourish the mind, body, and
spirit, from the outside in and from the inside out. Our students are
exposed to some of the latest advances in the scientific study of
consciousness.

People with personal mission, to include leaders,
activists, educators, psychologists, therapists, and adult interested in
gaining understanding of themselves and others, the program will help
you develop tools to connect more deeply with family, friends,
colleagues, clients—and mostly importantly—yourself.

Once you have applied, email the Summer Intensive Director, Sarah
Sherman with a brief notification email sharing you name and contact
information for a Skype or telephone interview. In this email we ask
that you also include an attachment with a supplemental 3-5 page
personal narrative describing your anticipated resonance with the Summer
Intensive approach to an MA, and sharing your current personal and
professional journey.

All applicants and application materials will be given a
holistic review. Life experience is valued and welcomed. Participants
will not be selected exclusively based on academic credentials.

D) Community Psychology & Integrative Health Services: Formerly known as "Training in Underserved Populations" this area of focus has been reenvisioned to prepare students to improve services for underserved populations within their specialized contexts. This concentration enables students to seek out work settings that serve the growing numbers of patients facing barriers to mental health treatment due to aging, illness/disabilities, incarceration, addiction, poverty, globalization, etc. The ONE requirement is CCPX 4010 plus THREE additional courses from the list below. Total = 4 courses/12 credits. Dr. Dinelia Rosa is the head of this concentration.

E) Psychotherapy & Psychoanalytic Perspectives: This area of focus prepares students to deepen their understanding of the various psychotherapeutic perspectives and their styles of intervention. Students will sample theories of contemporary and classical therapeutic orientations so they may one-day train to become psychotherapists or psychoanalysts. Upon graduation, students may pursue this training within doctoral programs (e.g., Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs), psychoanalytic institutes (many now have licensure tracks ), or another LMHP Licensure track Masters (Licensed Mental Health Practitioner). This concentration is for those who wish to one-day focus on direct patient contact and the treatment of individuals through psychotherapy and counseling theories and techniques. The ONE requirement is CCPX 4038 plus THREE additional courses from the list below. Total = 4 courses/12 credits. Dr. Barry Farber is the head of this concentration.

F) Global Mental Health & Trauma: This concentration provides coursework in two closely associated fields: global mental health and trauma. Courses offer exposure to the topics below. There are TWO requirements for this concentration: CCPX 5010 AND CCPX 4060. Please choose TWO additional courses from the list below. Total = 4 courses/12 credits. Drs. Helen Verdeli and George Bonanno are the heads of this concentration.

Longitudinal and prospective studies: of individuals’ reactions to adversity and their cross-sectional context; risk and protective factors for various forms of resilient outcomes; basic research in cognitive and emotional processes that inform adjustment

Assessment: of local idioms of distress, mental health needs and attitudes towards illness and treatment in regions around the world; Development and psychometrics of new and validation of existing symptom and functioning scales; Definition and development of metrics of individual and community-level resilience

Intervention: training in principles and strategies of evidence-based psychotherapies relevant to GMH and trauma exposure for prevention, treatment, implementation/dissemination; Adaptation for cultural relevance and manualization of psychosocial interventions; Design and implementation of clinical trials and program evaluations; Ethical conduct of cross-cultural research with vulnerable populations; Development of e-tools and knowledge management for quality improvement

G) Sexuality, Women, & Gender: This area of focus prepares students to envision and implement the next wave of theories and practices to improve well-being of persons with the above identities. Students will sample and apply women, gender, and sexuality theories to better understand the psychological and social lives of understudied groups such as women, LGB and Transgendered persons. This concentration is also relevant to the study of the human development of gender differences and roles ("masculinities/feminities"), sex and intimacy, reproductive and maternal mental health, and violence against women (VAW), among others. The ONE requirement is CCPX 4125 OR CCPJ 4180. Please choose THREE additional courses from the list below. Total = 4 courses/12 credits. Dr. Aurelie Athan is the head of this concentration.

Recommendations

If you are satisfied with the concentration, other departments throughout TC and Columbia University are likely to have related coursework. You are free to continue to build upon your area of interest as long as you are on track to fulfill the PSY-G track or PSY-G concentration requirements. It is also recommended to secure a fieldwork placement and to focus your Special Project in the selected area of concentration.

The combination of coursework, research/fieldwork, and writing experience allows students to acquire the necessary background to prepare them for longer-term career opportunities consistent with their chosen sub-specialty. Choosing a concentration can assist students to find well-matched opportunities upon graduation.